Discover the Wild World of Lamborghini Testing in This Retro ’60 Minutes’ Episode – A Jalopnik Exclusive

Modern Lamborghinis are incredible machines. When Audi took over the Italian supercar brand in 1998, many worried about how the serious German company would reshape the outspoken and wild Lamborghini. As someone who wasn’t even born when this happened, I’ve only heard stories about the “classic” Lamborghinis.

The pre-Audi days showcased models like the rugged LM002, which were bold, uncomfortable, and downright outrageous. I got a clearer picture of this era when I watched an old episode of “60 Minutes.” In it, Valentino Balboni, a legendary test driver, pushed a red Countach to speeds of 180 mph on crowded Italian roads. Back then, Lamborghini lacked a proper test track, so they tested their cars in real traffic. Seeing Balboni skillfully navigate around trucks and drive three-wide on narrow roads was nothing short of thrilling—and a bit reckless!

The interviews from that time were just as astonishing. Daniele Audetto, a former rally driver and marketing director for the Countach, used surprisingly bold imagery to describe the cars. He compared a white Countach to “a beautiful virgin” and a black one to “an intriguing woman.” This sort of commentary feels quite out of place today, reflecting a much different mindset from those earlier years.

Fast forward to today, and the world of cars has changed dramatically. Stringent safety and emissions regulations now prevent the creation of vehicles as wild as the Countach. With many young drivers inexperienced thanks to social media fame, one wonders how they would handle such raw power. Even the modern Countach LPI 800-4, while impressive, doesn’t quite match the sheer thrill of its ancestor.

Yet, despite being owned by Audi, Lamborghinis remain bold and exhilarating. David E. Davis, a respected voice in the automotive world, once said, “Anyone who’s worth anything should own a 12-cylinder car before they die.” There’s truth in that thought. Today, we may not have cars as raw as the Countach, but we can still appreciate the growl of a Lamborghini V12—captured perfectly in various documentaries.

As we reminisce about the past, it’s clear that while technology advances, the spirit of driving a Lamborghini—a blend of excitement and passion—remains alive.



Source link